March 23, 2024

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Carroll (Mont.) used a late second half surge to hold off Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday afternoon, earning a 71-56 NAIA women's basketball national quarterfinals victory at Tyson Events Center.  The Fighting Saints hit 49 percent from the field, making 25 baskets and contributing 20 assists.  DSU was held to 31.7 percent from the field (19-of-60 field goals). 

The Trojans made their fifth overall national quarterfinals in school program history, their third NAIA quarterfinals appearance in the last four seasons. 

Dakota State, No. 4 seed in the Cramer Quadrant and ranked No. 9 in the final NAIA Women's Top 25 national poll, finished their season with an overall record of 28-7.  It is the second most wins in school history, one win shy of tying the school record of 29 wins from last season.

Carroll, No. 2 seed in the quadrant and No. 6 ranked in the final national poll, will represent the Cramer bracket in the national semifinals.  The Fighting Saints take their 28-5 overall record Monday evening to take on their fellow Frontier Conference's foe Providence (Mont.) at 6 p.m.

It was the rematch of last year's NAIA Women's Basketball Round of 16 contest where the Trojans won 82-72.

(6) Carroll (Mont.) 71, (9) Dakota State (S.D.) 56 – FINAL

The Fighting Saints kicked off the game by scoring six straight points from Jamie Pickens for a 6-0 lead with seven minutes, thirty-sevens on the clock.

DSU ended their two-and-half minutes scoring drought by layup from Angela Slattery with 7:23 on the clock in the first period. 

Carroll was red-hot shooting, hitting 8-of-12 from the field and dishing out eight assists in the first six minutes to grab a 16-6 lead after Pickens' basket.

Cierra Watkins drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Tabor Teel) as the Trojans trimmed Carroll's lead to 20-14 by the end of the first quarter.  The Fighting Saints shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first ten minutes and held the Trojans to 37.5 percent (6-of-16 field goals).

Carroll kicked off the second quarter by holding Dakota State to one point for the first five-plus minutes, ballooning their lead to 25-15 after a pair of free-throws from Pickens.

DSU made their first basket of the second quarter from Slattery, trailing 25-17 with 4:36 to go.

Trailing 34-23, Dakota State ignited a 9-0 scoring outburst to close the second quarter.  Lilli Mackley highlighted the scoring run with a half-court 3-point shot at the buzzer as DSU cut CC's lead to 34-32.

The Trojans outscored the Fighting Saints 18-14 in the second quarter.

Carroll shot 48.1 percent from the field (13-of-27 field goals) in the first twenty minutes.  Dakota State was 37.5 percent from the field (12-of-32 field goals). 

DSU could get no closer than two points for the second time at 36-34 with nine minutes to go after Teel's basket (assisted by Slattery). 

Carroll went on a 15-6 scoring tear to close the third period, ballooning their lead to 51-40.  The Fighting Saints outscored the Trojans 17-8 in the third, highlighted by 8-of-19 field goals by CC and 4-of-14 field goals by DSU.

The Fighting Saints maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading by as many as 15 points.  Carroll outscored Dakota State 20-16 in the final quarter.

Slattery led the Trojans with 16 points and five rebounds.  She converted 8-of-8 free-throws.  She also had three assists and two steals.  Mackley added 14 points and four rebounds.  Watkins scored 10 points and collected four rebounds off the bench.  She had two steals.

Teel tallied six points, four rebounds, and two blocks for DSU.  Bria Wasmund added five points.  Miakken Vincent scored three points.

Pickens posted a double-double of 28 points and 18 rebounds for the Fighting Saints.  She dished six assists.  Maddie Geritz added a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.  She tallied four assists.  Kyndal Keller scored nine points. 

Dakota State was 19-of-60 from the field and 5-of-26 from the 3-point line.  Carroll shot 25-of-51 from the field, including 7-of-12 3-pointers.

DSU converted 13-of-18 free-throws to CC 14-of-18 free-throws.

The Fighting Saints outrebounded the Trojans 44-29 in the game.  Both teams scored 24 points inside the paint.

Saturday's game marked the final collegiate basketball games for three illustrated Dakota State seniors.  Savannah Walsdorf, who was injured in Trojans' Round of 16 victory, came in on the court on the final possession.  Morgan Huber and Vincent also ended their collegiate career Saturday. 

Stay tuned to dsuathletics.com for the 2023-24 Dakota State women's basketball season recap and records.